Answering the Call of Duty

Military veteran Laura Ortiz of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program in Miami leads a fitness demonstration with a group of local children.

(Photo Credit: )

When men and women answer the call of duty to serve our
country, that journey begins with Basic Training. This is where they prepare
their bodies and minds as they transition from civilian life to a military
career. Self-discipline, responsibility,
accountability and honor become more than mere words – it becomes their creed.

Growing up in a military family, I know the dedication it
takes to stay “PT” (or physical training) ready. That’s why I knew a
partnership between the National Recreation and Park Association and The Coca-Cola
Foundation on the Coca-ColaTroops
for Fitness (CCTFF) program would be a winner. It’s a program where park
and recreation departments employ our nation’s military veterans to serve as
fitness instructors and role models for healthy living. Veterans lead a wide variety of classes that
reflect their unique talents and experiences and also address any specific
fitness needs of the community. Examples
are “Walk with a Vet,” Zumba, Yoga, “Fit
camp,” nutrition classes and more. Programs are offered at low to no cost and are for any person, at any
level – from kids to seniors and every age in between.

Thanks to our partnership, CCTFF is in eight cities. In the first year of the program, more than
12,000 people took part in programs in Atlanta, Miami, Newark and Sacramento. That’s a lot of people taking a positive step
toward leading healthy, active lifestyles through parks and recreation. And this fall, we hope thousands more will join
in as the program expands to Boston, Detroit, Honolulu and Los Angeles.

Barbara Tulipane learns to tone her arms from military veteran Fabian Vega of the Miami Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program before a segment on FOX & Friends Weekend.

As many park and recreation departments across the country answer the call of duty to improve the
health and quality of life for the community members they serve, there are also
hundreds of veterans that stand ready to help their fellow community members
become a healthier form of themselves.

And that’s what Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness is all
about.

The veterans leading the program are some of the most
inspiring people you’ll meet. In fact,
I had the pleasure of spending time recently with two of the veterans leading
Troops for Fitness programs in Miami-Dade County – Laura
Ortiz and Fabian Vega – when we got together for a segment about the
program on Fox
& Friends Weekend. Within
minutes of his arrival, Fabian was showing me how to tone up my arms, because
let’s be honest, who doesn’t want toned arms!

We are proud of this program and our partnership with The Coca-Cola
Foundation. Together we will reach our goal of engaging 200 veterans in 12
communities over the next few years and help communities get in shape in the
process.